18 A MYSTERIOUS WARNING. 



which at that period fully occupied his mind, he resolved to 

 try the effects of a trip down the Clyde to recruit his health. 

 He accordingly boarded the new steamer Telegraph with 

 that object, but had not been long on deck when a 

 mysterious feeling of uneasiness crept over him, a feeling of 

 impending danger which he could not in any way account 

 for. Unable to find a reason for this nervous sensation, and 

 believing it to be the result of overwork, he strove to battle 

 against it. 



His efforts were all in vain ; the feeling of uneasiness grew 

 uncontrollable, and he was obliged to go ashore. When on 

 the quay, however, this vague sense of insecurity entirely 

 left him, and believing it was some mental delusion, he again 

 went on board the Telegraph, but no sooner did so than 

 he was attacked by a nervous fit of greater intensity. Un- 

 able in spite of his great strength of will to bear up against 

 these alarming symptoms, he left the steamer, impelled by 

 an invisible and irresistible force. There happened to be 

 another boat advertised to start at the same time, but she 

 was a very old, crazy vessel, so crazy, in fact, as to be unsafe. 

 This boat Robert Boyle, against his reason, actually boarded, 

 feeling utterly ashamed at being conquered by nervous 

 feelings so unreasonable. 



At last the bell rang for the Telegraph to start, and, 

 resolving to be master over his own reason, he made a 



